Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Help to create a Butterfly Meadow in Granton

Here’s a chance to help with the creation of a wildflower meadow in Granton Crescent Park, organised by Butterfly Conservation Scotland!

We are creating a new meadow at Silverknowes Park to support local butterfly populations, and need volunteers to help out. On this first event, we will be raking back some of the grass and sowing seeds of a wildflower called ‘Yellow Rattle’. In future events we will be planting wildflower plug plants and sowing more seeds, and in the summer we’ll come along to see what butterflies are there.

This event is suitable for all, but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Even if you can only make it for an hour or two, you are still welcome to come along to help out.

Registration is essential: contact Anthony on amccluskey@butterfly-conservation.org to book your space.

Date and Times: Monday 11th November, 10.30am – 2.30pm

Location: Granton Crescent Park, Edinburgh (full location details will be sent on registration)

This event is part of the Helping Hands for Butterflies project, which is generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage and members of Butterfly Conservation. It is being kindly supported by City of Edinburgh Council.

Starts 10:30am on Monday 11 November, but make sure to book a place if you’re interested: https://butterfly-conservation.org/events/granton-crescent-park-edinburgh-wildflower-meadow-creation

International arts competition launched to tell the story of whales on South Georgia

A major international artistic competition centred at Grytviken Whaling Station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia has been launched to reimagine the centrepiece of its cultural heritage and in doing so, highlight powerful conservation messages for the future of our planet. Continue reading International arts competition launched to tell the story of whales on South Georgia

Public warning after Asian gold housebreakings

Police Scotland are once again urging communities to be vigilant and homeowners to take appropriate security measures following a number of housebreakings across the country targeting Asian gold jewellery and cash.

Since April there have been 35 reports of break-ins to properties in Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Ayrshire and Edinburgh, resulting in over £500,000 worth of jewellery and cash being stolen. Continue reading Public warning after Asian gold housebreakings

Port of Leith Housing Association: Shaping the Next Five Years – community consultation

Do you live in Leith? Join Port of Leith Housing Association’s community consultation ‘Shaping the next 5 years’ for a chance to see our 2020 – 2025 draft plan in progress . 

You can  take part online at www.polha.co.uk/the-future or visit one of the pop-up consultations (see below). Continue reading Port of Leith Housing Association: Shaping the Next Five Years – community consultation

Guy Fawkes Night: more attacks on emergency services

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews responded to approximately 359 bonfires across the country between 3.30pm and 11.30pm yesterday (November 5).

Operations Control firefighters handled 882 calls from members of the public. There were also several attacks on crews, but no firefighters were seriously injured. Continue reading Guy Fawkes Night: more attacks on emergency services

Scottish Book Trust celebrates publication of free Blether book

On Wednesday 30 October, an event was held at City Art Centre in Edinburgh to celebrate the publication of Blether, a free book created by Scottish Book Trust for this year’s Book Week Scotland celebrating a Year of Conversation.

Writers from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Oban and more had the opportunity to gather together and read their works. Continue reading Scottish Book Trust celebrates publication of free Blether book

Success for BBC Scotland at Scottish Baftas

BBC Scotland, the BBC’s new digital channel for Scotland, which launched in February this year, celebrated a clean sweep at the Bafta Scotland awards ceremony in Glasgow on Sunday night, picking up a bumper crop of gongs across multiple categories.
The evening saw the channel triumph in every category it was nominated in, alongside an evening of BBC success which included the creative team behind Still Game receiving an Outstanding Contribution To Television award (winners detailed below).

Continue reading Success for BBC Scotland at Scottish Baftas